Wedge adjusting mechanism for locomotive drive boxes



May 18, 1937. w. A. OTOOLE WEDGE ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVE DRIVE BOXES Filed March 1, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR y 1937- w. A. O'TOOLE 2,080,833

WEDGE ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR LOCOMOTIVE DRIVE BOXES Filed March 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K (J- w v INVENTOR d'zzzb Patented May 18, 1937 UNITED STATES WEDGE ADJUSTING -MECHANISM. FOR LOCOMOTIVE n-mvn BOXES William A. QToole, McKeesport, Pa. Application March 1, 1935, Serial No. 8,856

9 Claims.

This invention relates broadly toa wedge-adjusting device for use inbearings and hastodo particularly. with a locomotive drive box or like assembly.

For purposes of explanation .and illustration the invention .will be described as embodied in a more or less conventional type locomotive drive box assembly, but it will be understood that it may. beused in connection with any-other bearing assembly wherein adjusting wedges are employed. The invention isin the nature of an improvement over the inventions described and claimed in my Unitedstates Letters Patent Nos. 1,580,526 and 1,654,597.

As is well known, each end of each driving axle of a locomotive is received within a bearlngdevice commonlykno-wn as .a drive box. The drive boxes.;are retained in .the pedestal of the locomotive frame. .Eac'h drive :box is usually connected with the pedestal by means of a saddle engag ng the top of the drivebox andalso engaging the midepoint of .a suitable leaf spring. .The ends of .the leaf spring are connected with the locomotive frame. Thus when the locomotive is in motionv there will be .a slight vertical movement between .the drive box. and the. pedestal .by reason of wave in track and of the yieldable connection interposed by the spring.

While .the drive..=box .rnust be free to move up and down .in the pedestal, it isimportant that therebesubstantiallyno play in the. direction lengthwise of the locomotive between the drivebox and the pedestal. .Toprevent such play a wedge is interposed between one side of the drive box and the corresponding side of the pedestal, this wedge being adjustedvertically as wear develops between thedrive box and the wedge and between the wedge and. the :ped estal, such wear developing throughthe relative vertical motion between thedrive box and pedestal.

It is .well known to :employ spring devices .of various kinds forresiliently urging the Wedges of;locomotiv e drive box assembliesginto position to take up the wear just mentioned. The use of such spring devices has numerous drawbacks and disadvantages, among which is that .such :a device .does not afford-a positive positioning of the wedge butgonlyacts on .the Wedge resiliently. As the wedge advances-under the action of the springthe spring becomes less and lesseifective, and ultimately, unless a :hand adjustment is made, the. spring will lose ,its effect entirely. Furthermore, the springs are subjected to. the HIGSRSQlVQIQgkiIld sofrusepnd :springsof the highest grade and most. expensive spring steellmust be used. .Even such springs not infrequently fail in use. Moreover, the most successfuldevices employing springs require thelocation of such springs at the. bottom of the pedestalbrace, the same depending several inches below the brace. These springdevicesare. invariably damaged. when the locomotive is. derailed, and .the use of such .springsin switching engines and locomotives .of. the smaller types is practically prohibitedas thereis not sufiicient .clearance'belowthe frames ofsuch locomotives to allowed the positioning therebelow of the necessary spring mechanism.

.xIprovide a wedge adjusting mechanism for a locomotive drive box or like assemblyenabling the abolishment of all Wedge supporting springs andthe disadvantages attendant thereto pointed out aboveand having the further advantage that the wedge .or other positioning means-is positively but automatically moved to and maintained in desiredadjusted positions. "This makes for a sturdier more rigid constructionin which play of the wedges .againstithe springsand the uncertainty of springaction are entirelydone away with. My construction adapted for applicationto anyylocomotive pedestal brace and projects therebelow only to a very slight extent.

, I utilize therelative 'movement between the drive box andxthe frame or pedestal to operate the adjusting means. 'I hismay be donein variouswvays, although I prefer to employ means operated by the relative movement between the drive box and the pedestal to advanceethe wedge or .otherpositioning means. may, for example, be accomplished by a cam device in connection with the .ipedest'al brace operating a screw'or nut whichmoves a connecting or thrust member against the wedge. l Other details, objects-and advantages of the invention-will become apparent; as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

'In the accompanying drawings, 1 have showna present preferred.embodimentof the invention, in which.

'Figure 1 isa vertical cross-sectional view of a locomotive drive .boxassembly;

Figure .2 is a perspective viewbf a portion ofa bracket adapted-for connection to the 1ocQniQt1ve pedestal brace;

Figure 3 is a -;perspective view of an operating member adapted for use iin;=connec.tion withcthe bracketshowninzEigurez; r

said portion of the assembly when in another operative position; and

Figure 9 is a face view of the wedge for taking up the wear between the drive box and the ped estal.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is designated by reference numeral 2 the portion of a locomotive frame commonly known .as the. pedestal which comprises legs 3 and 4. The lower ends of the pedestal legs are connected together in usual manner by the pedestal brace 5. Received between the legs 3 and 4 is a drive box 6 which carries a journal bearing 1 mounted on the journal of a driving axle 8. Bearings 9 and I9 are interposed between the drive box 6- and the legs 3 and 4, respectively, the bearing 9 being of wedge shape in cross section at its central portion as shown in Figure 1 and having side flanges II which embrace the pedestal leg .3.

The drive box is closed at the bottom by a closure member I2 which contains suitable means for applying lubricant to the journal. Such means, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a mass of grease l3 urged upwardly toward the journal by a spring l4 bearing against a plate |5 which carries the grease, a perforated protective member l6 bearing directly against the journal and 7 allowing of the application of lubricant thereto.

The function of the wedge 9 is, as well known in the art, to position the drive box relative to the pedestal in the horizontal direction or, stated in another way, to take up the wear occurring between the wedge, the drivebox and the pedestal .during relative generally vertical movement between the drive box and the pedestal when the locomotive is in motion. The wedge is adapted to be moved upwardly as wear occurs, thus taking up the wear and maintaining the drive box in proper guided position at all times.

I In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings a bracket I! having a central portion as clearly shown in Figure 2 is bolted to the bottom of the pedestal brace 5, as shown in Figure 1. At its bottom the bracket has a relatively small bore |8 and at its top a relatively large bore l9, the latter being open laterally at both sides as shown in Figure 2. Each lateral opening has a substantially fiat bottom portion 29 forming a continuation of the seat 2| formed at the offset between the bore l8 and the bore l9, a substantially vertical wall 22 and an inclined wall 23 which slants upwardly and inwardly of the opening. Each of the walls 23 is adapted to function as a cam, as will presently appear. A curved slot 24 is made in the upper surface of the bracket i7 longitudinally at one side of and inter: secting the bore l9, as shown in Figure 2, for a purpose to be presently described.

There is provided'a bolt 25 having ahead 26 rounded in one direction and flattened in the other direction, which headis'adapted to be re v bracket.

ceived within a slot 21 in'the bottom of the wedge 9. The bolt passes downwardly through a bore 28 in the pedestal brace 5 and through the bores l9 and la in the bracket Applied to the bolt 25 is a nut 29 of the shape shown in Figures 7 and S and which has an upper internally threaded portion 30 threadedly cooperating with the bolt 25, a downwardly projecting sleeve portion 3| and an outwardly projecting annular flange 32. The bottom of the flange 32 is flat and smooth and is adapted to rest upon the seat 2| of the The upper surface of the flange 32, however, is knurled as shown at 33. In lieu of being knurled, the two contacting surfaces may be ground, that is, one abraded against the other to provide cooperating faces. This overcomes the wear which occurs where knurling is used.

Surrounding the internally threaded portion 30 of the nut 29 is an operating member 34, shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, which has generally the shape of a hollow cylinder but with outward projections 35 extending from its cylindrical surface at opposite sides thereof. The cylindrical surface of the operating member 34 also has a notch 36 intermediate the projections 35, as shown in Figure 3. The bottom surface 31 of the operating member 34 is knurled. or ground, as shown in Figure 5. Such surface is adapted to rest upon the knurled or ground-in upper surface 33' of the flange 32 of the nut 29 when the parts are assembled, and the projections 35 are adapted to extend outwardly within the oppositely disposed openings in the bracket'fl. Each of the projections 35 has a substantially vertical side wall 38 and an inclined side wall 39, the respective walls 38 and 39 being substantially parallel to the respective walls 22 and 23 of the bracket IT. The width of each of the projections 35 is slightly less than the width of the opening in the bracket H in which it is disposed, as shown in Figure 6, so that a slight rotative movement of the operating member 34 relative to the bracket is permitted. Disposed in the slots 24 and 36 above described is a spring member 40 tending normally to rotate the operating member 34 in the counterclockwise direction, or opposite the arrows 4|, shown in Figure 6.

The operation of the device will now be explained. When the locomotive is inmotion the drive box and pedestal are continually moving relatively to each other in the generally vertical direction, as above explained, resulting in increasing wear. Such relative movement results in'a generally vertical reciprocatory movement of the wedge 9,relatively to the pedestal and, consequently, relatively to the pedestal brace 5 and the bracket Such movement of the wedge 9 imparts a like movement to the bolt 25.

Now let it be assumed that the parts are in the position shown in Figures 6 and 7 in which the bottom of the nut 29 rests on the seat 2| and the inclined walls 39 of the operating member 34 are urged against and in contact with the inclined Walls or cams 23 of the bracket. Upon upward movement of the wedge 9 the bolt 25 is carried therewith and the bolt carries the nut 29,which, in turn, carries the operating member 34. These parts move upwardly to the position shown in Figure 8. During such upward movement the bolt 25 does not rotate by reason of the'connection between its head and the wedge 9. However, the engagement between the respective cams 23fand the inclined walls or cam followers 39iiof-the projections -'35 of theoperating member the assembly just described. Under these circumstances relatively great frictionexists between the two knurled or ground surfaceswith the result that rotation of the operating'member causes a corresponding rotation of the nut 29, resulting in a slight upward projection of the bolt and a positive advancement of the wedge into desired adjusted position relative to the pedestal.

Upon downward movement of the assembl just described, as,: for example, from the position shownin Figure 8 to that shown in Figure '7, the inertia of the operating member 34 results in a materially decreased frictional resistance between the surface 31 thereof and the surface 33 of the flange 32 of the nut 29. The nut tends to drop from beneath the operating member, this momentarily releasing the operating member, which is returned by the spring 40 to its original position with the respective inclined walls or cam followers 39 thereof in contact with the respective walls or cams 23 of the bracket H. The parts then assume the position of Figure 7 except for the slight rotation which has been imparted to the nut 29 and the corresponding slight upward movement imparted to the bolt 25 by the cycle of operations just explained and the cycle is repeated.

The operation above described results in movement of the wedge to desired adjusted positions and positive maintenance of the same therein. It is contemplated that in normal operation no manual adjustment at all will be necessary but easy manual adjustment is provided for in case of necessity by forming the outer surface of the sleeve portion 3| of the nut 29 for reception of a wrench so that a wrench may be applied there to and the nut turned manually. The interengagement between the inclined surfaces 39 and 23, together with the interengagement of the cooperating knurled surfaces 33 and 31 positively prevents the nut from turning so as to permit loosening of the bolt.

The amount of movement of the bolt on each cycle of operations as above explained depends on three factors, these being the pitch of the screw, the inclination of the cam surfaces 23 and the amount of rotational movement of the operating member which is provided for. Any or all of these factors may be adjusted as desired and they may be correlated so as to produce the desired movement.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a locomotive drive box assembly having a pedestal, a drive box and an adjusting wedge, of an adjusting screw for the wedge, an adjusting nut on said screw, a member for turning the nut in one direction only, cooperating surfaces on said member and a portion of the pedestal for imparting movement thereto in one direction upon relative vertical movement between said member and the frame, and spring means for returning said member to P its original position.

i -'i 2. The combination with a locornot'ive- :dri-ve box assembly havlngapedestal, adrive boxiand an adjusting-wedge, of an adjusting screw-for the wedge, an adjusting nut onssaid screw,'said nut and screw being vertically movable withuthe wedge relative to thepedestal, an actuating memcar'ried on the. nut for vertical movement therewith, cooperating cam surfaces on said member-and -the. pedestal'for causing rotative movement of said member in one direction upon relativeupward'movement thereof, and a spring screw, and means operable by relative vertical movement between the wedge and pedestal for turning said nut to raise the wedge relatively to the pedestal.

4. The combination with a locomotive drive box assembly having a pedestal, a drive box and an adjusting wedge, of an adjusting screw attached to the wedge in such manner that both the screw and the wedge move up and down together relatively to the drive box, a nut for limiting the upward movement of the wedge and the screw, and means for turning said nut to raise the wedge relatively to the pedestal as wear develops in the assembly, said means being operable to turn the nut upon relative motion.

of the wedge and pedestal in one vertical direction and being ineffective to turn the nut upon relative motion of the wedge and pedestal in the other vertical direction.

5. The combination with a locomotive drive box assembly having a pedestal, a drive box and an adjusting wedge, of an adjusting screw attached to the wedge in such manner that both the screw and the wedge move up and. down together relatively to thexdrive box, a nut for limiting the upward movement of the wedge and the screw, and means for turning said nut to raise the wedge relatively tothe pedestal as wear develops in the assembly, said means being operable to turn the nut with anupward relative motion of the wedge in the pedestal and being ineffective to turn the nut upon downward relative motion of the wedge with respect to the pedestal.

6. The combination with a locomotive drive box assembly comprising a pedestal, a drive box in the pedestal and an adjusting wedge between the drive box at one side of the pedestal, of an adjusting screw attached to the wedge in such manner that both the wedge and the screw move up and down together relatively to the drive box, a nut for limiting the relative upward movement of the wedge with respect to the drive box, and

means for turning said nut to raise the wedge relatively to the pedestal as wear develops, said means including an actuating member cooperating with the nut and having a cam-engaging surface thereon, a part of the pedestal being provided with a fixed cam surface for cooperation with the cam-engaging surface of said actuating member, said actuating member and said cam surfaces being so arranged that upward movement of the wedge relatively to the pedestal serves to turn said actuating, member to turn the nut, said actuating member being provided with means for returning it to its initial position after it has been turned by the action of; said canengaging surfaces, the relation between the actuating member and the nut being such that the return movement of the actuating member does not turn the nut.

7. The combination with a locomotivedrive box assembly having a pedestal, a drive box and an adjusting wedge, of means for adjustably limiting the motion of the wedge upwardly with respect to the pedestal, and means actuated through relative motion between the pedestal and wedge for adjusting the wedge upwardly.

8. The combination with a locomotive drive box assembly having a pedestal, a drive box and an adjusting wedge, of adjustable means for limita s s a ing the movement of the wedge upwardly relatively to'the drive pedestal and for feeding the wedge upwardly as wear develops between the drive box and pedestal, and means actuated through relative vertical movement between the wedge and pedestal for operating said adjustable means 9. A locomotive drive box assembly comprising a pedestal, a drive box, an adjusting wedge, a screw member attached to the wedge having a nut element thereon-cooperating with a portion of the pedestal for' limiting the upward movement of the wedge relatively to the pedestal, and means cooperating with a portion of the pedestal frame and with said nut for turning said nut in one direction only upon relative vertical movement between the wedge and pedestal.

WILLIAM A. QTOOLE. 

